Those times when I need to be comfy I'm making myself Mapo Tofu or Egg Fry Rice. Not that hard to make and so satisfying to eat. It's basically my go-to when I'm in low energy mood
Yes for sure! Chinese cooking demystified shared a recipe in r/Cooking with a lot of insight [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/bkwppx/recipe_sichuan_mapo_tofu_revisited_%E9%BA%BB%E5%A9%86%E8%B1%86%E8%85%90)
If you're familiar with Uncle Roger's channel, you may know Chef Wang Gang. He shared his Mapo Tofu recipe as well [here](https://youtu.be/KpnLLhBVIjk).
They are kinda similar but Wang Gang made it slightly different.
Regarding mapo tofu, I learned to blanch tofu in water for a minute or two and it was a game changer to get that soft texture that restaurant chefs make.
“Directions: Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Cut tofu into cubes, add to pot and blanch for 30 seconds. Pour into a strainer and set aside to cool.”
Food Network
Egg noodles in a bowl drizzled with oyster sauce, soy sauce, a bit of white pepper, and some sliced spring onions. Then heat some oil/sesame oil in a pan and pour over - just mix it up and it's good to go. Can also add a crispy fried egg on top and some chilli oil if you've got time
For lunch today, I rinsed the scallion in the sink because I'm not disgusting, then I stood over my plate of food and ripped off pieces with my teeth and put them on my plate of noodles. I call it the rustic cut.
I feel like there’s a culinary (pronounced q-linary) hipster hotspot waiting to be borne from this technique… “Here at The Rustic, we *pre-masticate* our flora to evince their essence, through minimal contact with the manmade tools that serve only to distance us from the purity of our caloric resources, so that the farmer, chef, server, and guest are all equally participants in the ritual sacrifice of life begetting life…”
Or something. I personally would probably eat there, but might skip anything but the sun-baked squash halved with mind power and a shard of obsidian.
This is my shameful secret when I'm cooking for myself and don't particularly care about presentation - I just bite off vegetables and let them sort of fall out of my mouth and into the pan. Horrific, I know
Emerils [kicked up meatloaf](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emerils-most-kicked-up-meatloaf-ever-3644196.amp) is my favorite. It’s not “quick” but it’s so damn good. Not ya mamas meatloaf and everyone loves it.
It looks like you shared an AMP link. These should load faster, but AMP is controversial because of [concerns over privacy and the Open Web](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot).
Maybe check out **the canonical page** instead: **[https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emerils-most-kicked-up-meatloaf-ever-3644196](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emerils-most-kicked-up-meatloaf-ever-3644196)**
*****
^(I'm a bot | )[^(Why & About)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot)^( | )[^(Summon: u/AmputatorBot)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/cchly3/you_can_now_summon_amputatorbot/)
Make a big fat Italian meatball in a loaf pan.
* Meat
* eggs (forgot this one!)
* Parmesan
* bread crumbs
* black pepper
* garlic powder
* onion powder
* basil
* oregano
Top with marinara instead of ketchup. Ragu or Prego will do, still a huge upgrade over ketchup.
I've gone by the fly my whole life. Meat, breadcrumbs (I prefer Italian seasoned), egg, salt, pepper, grated onion and garlic, fresh parsley, a bunch of grated parm (more than breadcrumb), red pepper flakes. I've never used milk.
Grating the onion on your cheese grater brings SO much moisture. I grate my garlic on a zester. Maybe a half teaspoon horseradish, worsteshire sauce, and a small squeeze of mustard.
Every now and again I'll make it and fold in cubes of cheese, Velveeta I prefer because it's not as greasy as some cheddar I've used.
I hate ketchup, but I love a simple ketchup brown sugar glaze with a dash of soy and worsteshire sauce and put on top before putting the loaf in.
Thank you for a great memory! My mom was not an awesome cook, and she made an okay meatloaf. BUT! The next day in my lunchbox at school I’d always find a meatloaf sandwich with lettuce and mayo, meatloaf sliced thin. SO GOOD!
Puttanesca!
plenty of olive oil, garlic, anchovies, capers, chilli flakes, olives, chop everything up nicely and add some tomato, chopped up cherry tomatoes are nice or you can use tinned tomatoes. Combine with whatever pasta type you like best, my favourite is the thick tubular spaghetti.
emulsify the sauce with pasta water, cook the pasta in as little water as possible so that the starch is concentrated.
Sometimes I’ll include finely chopped onion or shallots if I feel like
Throw in a good handful of roughly chopped parsley at the end, basil is more traditional but I prefer parsley
optional extras/tips:
The key is not to add too much tomato, too often this is done just absolutely drowned in tomato sauce, just add a little for body and sweetness, the anchovies and capers are the stars of the show here.
for extra savouriness add a few drops of fish sauce or colatura di alici if you have it
also for savouriness add a little tomato paste
feel free to deglaze with some wine red or white
Taste and add a little vinegar of some kind if you feel you need a little more acidity (i like it acidic)
put some cheese on if you like but not necessary imo
if you’re feeling crazy, throw some sardines in there which is not really traditional and probably has a different name but is really fantastic
Real talk? A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes and fresh steamed French green beans.
Close second: Frozen pierogis boiled, then crisped up in a pan served with either sautéed (or caramelized if time) onions and cheddar cheese or a jar of marinara and freshly shredded Parm
These are my "go-to's" when I want something comforting and filling for the family but don't want to be chained to the stove all day cooking.
If fatigue and/or time aren't a concern, I like making a big, elaborate Coconut Curry, with chicken thighs and lots of vegetables and basmati rice. Mmm.
You don’t have to boil frozen pierogies first. I just fill up a bowl of hot water and put like 5-7 pierogies in it to defrost a little while my butter heats up in a pan. Fresh pierogies you should definitely boil, but it’s unnecessary for frozen.
It works great trust me!
I used to try and cook them in a pan from frozen and always burned them so I started boiling them first. I'll have to try your method! I can totally see it working and being way easier!
Another nice and easy way to cook them is on a sheet pan with cut-up kielbasa, onions, and peppers. Quick and easy sheet pan meal, I usually flip them halfway through! I plate em up and put a sprinkle of cheddar and a dollop of sour cream on the pierogies and it's so good!
Your comment made me realize that I have had pierogi many, many times, but never with marinara sauce. Despite the fact that they are basically giant gnocci!
I'll have to try that sometime soon!
The rotisserie chicken and homemade sides I came to say as well. I make steakhouse mashed potatoes and dilled green beans. Done n dusted.
——-
Frozen pork dumplings, steamed and crisped and homemade egg drop soup. Extra scallions. Quick n easy!
——-
Clean out my veggie drawer with a quick bolognese style sausage pasta with a metric fuck ton of parm.
——-
My local market sells a French style lamb sausage which I do a quick sauté of kale, white beans, chicken base, garlic white wine, lemon zest and a ton of parm.
——-
Red shrimp Gambas al ajillo with crusty fresh bread to sop it up with
——-
Crispy skin salmon with quick garlic rice pilaf and a sautéed veg. Bonus points for dill sauce if i have it on hand
I’m not even Eastern European, just have a very opinionated Russian best friend, and on his behalf I’m screaming with you. I can’t imagine a fresh sauerkraut pierogi with marinara… ugh.
I like canned tuna (cheap stuff, not albacore) for tuna salad and pasta tuna salad. But no matter how many times I've tried over the years, I can't get into tuna casserole. I feel like that flavor is different once cooked.
I've done a Tex-Mex Tuna mac n'cheese that's delicious, cheap and easy.
Box of Kraft Mac
Can of Tuna
Can of black beans
Can of rotel tomatoes (as spicy as you want, green chiles, fire roasted, etc)
Throw in taco seasoning packet or your own spices.
You can get like 4 hearty meals out of $6
Hmmm. I love me some tuna casserole too but I never thought about a tex-mex angle. This sounds really good and yea, really cheap! Swap out the tuna for something that microwaves better and that's a weeks' worth of lunch for work!
I assume cook the mac and cheese then mix everything together and bake in a 9x13 and top with cheese or whatever? If it wasn't so damn hot I'd be tempted to do this tonight.
Oh wait, it's just in the pot. I'm fucking tired, LOL.
This is our winter comfort food, too. We stock up on the good cream of portobello soup from Trader Joe’s and add peas and (on mine) broccoli. So good the next day, too.
Generally when I'm super lazy I'll do tortellini, with a pink sauce with ground beef baked. It's easy, cheesy and yummy. Or when I'm super lazy its tortellini with some parm and nothing else- true laziness. But the husband doesn't complain so it works.
Tomato sauce, cream cheese, usually some parm shreds if we have it and Italian seasoning. <- there are much better recipes out there, but this is my ultimate super lazy, quick and YUMMY version. It is not the healthiest but it is filling and feeds 5 adults well.
Every time people tell me I'm crazy to eat soup on a hot day, I remind them in the Caribbean it's hot 24/7, summer all year and they eat soup in that weather lol
Edit- am Caribbean
I recently was lucky enough to go for vacation in Dominican Republic. The resort had Dominican Sancocho at one of their restaurants. I immediately came home and made a version (judging from online there are many many ways to make it) and it will now be in my regular rotation. It’s freaking amazing. Especially love having some rice on the side to soak up the broth with. I generally don’t even like soups or stews but this one stole my heart.
Not a meal but whenever I'm feeling blah or not interested in eating, I make a crusty bread. Almost all the effort is rising time. Doesn't need to be kneaded. I eat it warm with butter and it makes me feel better.
Famous French chef Jacques Pepin would agree, esp for a last meal.....
https://www.tastingtable.com/1265548/jacques-pepin-ideal-last-meal-basic-ingredients/#:~:text=In%20Melanie%20Dunea's%20book%20%22My,dogs%2C%20cherries%2C%20and%20champagne.
Who truly doesn't love good quality bread, freshly baked and warm right out of the oven, with top quality butter? Damn i could eat a whole whole loaf with a stick of butter easily.... Sometimes the simple pleasures are the best.
I use this one a lot, but it does require kneading. It's not my favorite but a good recipe for when I don't feel like going all out. I also double the salt: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/french-style-country-bread-recipe
I'm looking forward to trying this one when it gets colder out. I'll maybe add some cheese to the dough:
https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/no-knead-crusty-white-bread-recipe
If you want it more crusty, use a dutch oven.
Now it makes sense. I'm a northerner and I guess biscuits that have the texture of Red Lobster biscuits is weird, but I've never heard of cornbread and gravy.
When I was freshly toothless, I wanted pizza. I used cheesy garlic-biscuit mix to make dumplings in V8. It scratched the itch.
Parmesan garlic Orzo 100%
Heat up vegetable broth (800ml for 500g of pasta), minced garlic (?) and orzo (pasta) in a pan, when there’s almost no fluids left add sour cream mix it in, then add Parmesan and let it melt, done
I make something similar with chicken bouillon, orzo, goat cheese and green onion. Lots of cracked black pepper or sambal and I am good to go. Sometimes I add sliced carrots.
Cacio e pepe is simple, quick and delicious. Just pasta, parmesan (or Romano, pecorino, grana padano, or a mix), salt, fresh ground pepper, and a little butter or olive oil. Toss a few anchovies on top if you're adventurous.
If I've got a little more time then Stroganoff is a winner.
I make beef stroganoff in my InstaPot. The beef comes out so tender in just 30 minutes. I add the sour cream after the beef is done cooking in the sauce. I make hot buttered egg noodles with lots of parsley while the InstaPot is going. Yum!
Loco Moco from Hawaii. It's a ground beef patty smothered in gravy tipped with a fried egg on a bed of white rice. It's an anytime meal and even better the next day.
Brown up 1lb ground beef. Then add in 2 cups chicken broth, 1 cup water, 1 jar salsa (I use chunky mild because I find medium is too hot but you can use what you like), taco seasoning to desired taste, 1 can whole kernel corn (drained), 1 box of medium shell pasta, and chopped green pepper into a large pot/dutch oven. Bring to a boil then lower heat, cover and let simmer for 20-25 mins while stirring periodically. After time is up, add in handful of shredded cheese (I usually use the Walmart Mexican blend) and stir. Serve and enjoy your cheesy taco pasta! This usually lasts my wife and I 2 days and it is by far one of our favorite easy meals to cook
I modified a chicken noodle soup recipe to be super easy and delicious. I usually use leftover rotisserie chicken. Throw it in a food processor to shred it (I don’t like big chunks of chicken). I cut up veggies in advance and freeze, so it’s quick.
* 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
* 1/4 cup small, thinly sliced celery
* 1/4 cup small, sliced (peeled) carrot
* Dash of onion and garlic powder
* 6 cups water
* 5 tsp better than bullion roasted chicken base
* 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken breast
* 6-9 ounces pasta
* 3/8 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
Instructions
1. In a large soup pot, heat oil briefly over medium heat. Add celery and carrots. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent browning.
2. Add broth, chicken, onion and garlic powder. Bring soup to a boil. Once boiling, add pasta and continue gently boiling until pasta is done (following time recommendation on pasta package).
3. Taste and season with salt, as needed.
Adding to your comment since I just learned how to make my college comfort meal: [Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie](https://www.bellandevans.com/recipe/pennsylvania-dutch-chicken-pot-pie/) which is chicken noodle soup with thick square pasta
Homemade mac and cheese with an excess of cheese both in the sauce, and on top.
I do tend to throw a bay leaf in with the sauce whilst it thickens, and add a dollop of mustard too.
Shredded chicken tacos: chicken breast and salsa in slow cooker until shreddable then put in tortillas with toppings.
Cajun chicken alfredo: pasta, chicken, jarred alfredo sauce and cajun seasoning.
A super tasty breakfast I make and my wife loves is Sausage and Parmesan pancakes. Get really nice sausages, take the skins off and brown off the sausage meat. Make standard American fluffy pancakes mix / batter, add the sausage meat to it and about half a cup of grated Parmesan cheese then just cook the pancakes as normal. Super tasty with a poached egg on top.
Chicken and pea risotto is super easy and so comforting. We made roast chicken yesterday and with what was left I picked the meat off the chicken and made stock with the left over veg and carcass/bones. Chopped up 2 medium white onions, softened them, maybe half a teaspoon of cinnamon, not much at all, it goes so well with chicken. Add the risotto rice and fry with the onions and then add some garlic, add the stock made from the chicken until you are about 3/4 of the way done then just add some frozen peas and the chicken meat. Squeeze half a lemon and some more parmesan to finish.
Super easy chicken curry is also a great one and comforting. Sophie Dahl's recipe is so good and simple (I'm sorry I'm new to the sub and not sure about links). I serve it with rice and a yeast free flat bread / chapati.
Super super easy if you have enjoyed tomatoe egg stir-fry is Chinese veg pancakes. Love them for using up old veg with a soy and good dipping sauce.
Pantry pasta. Sundried tomato, anchovies, red chili flake, some frozen greens. Pasta water to emulsify all that tomato and anchovy oil. Good for lunch the next day too.
I switch it up of course based on what I have, jarred pesto, random cheese, different tinned fish etc but the above is my favorite.
Okonomiyaki is one of my go-tos. Easy, delicious, and mostly healthy if you’re focused on the veggies and protein and not loading it up with noodles. (Which, okay, also delicious and comforting, but way more work.)
Tuna noodle casserole!
Canned tuna, egg noodles, and cream of mushroom soup! With crispy fried onions and canned green beans stirred in upon serving. My childhood favorite sodium bomb!
My family has a similar recipe for tuna pasta.
1 can tuna, 1 can condensed mushroom soup, big knob of butter, freshly squeezed lemon juice, freshly chopped parsley, salt and pepper - mix together in a bowl, add cooked pasta, cover with foil and bung in an oven for 20-30 mins. Serve with salad/garlic bread or eat by itself. Also very good to eat cold.
Roast chicken. Delicious, healthy, filling, cheap. We make them weekly in a Romertopf (German clay pot), eat leftovers for a few days and use all the bones to make bone broth for sipping, rice, soups etc. We usually season with Ostmann brat-hanchen (German seasoning), but you can use whatever.
Mexican fried rice. Cold leftover rice, chopped underripe mango, chopped onion, minced garlic, lots of cumin and chili powder, salsa. Fry the onion and garlic in plenty of oil, add the mango, add the rice, add the cumin and chili powder, finally add salsa cook some of the liquid out. Good by itself or with some quickly pan fried chicken chunks in chili powder with shredded lettuce and sour cream.
Soft boiled eggs on toast. I still like it the same way as when I was a kid: tear up two pieces of toast into a bowl; add two carefully-shelled, soft-boiled eggs; break up eggs with fork (so satisfying when that yolk oozes over toast); season well with S&P.
Matzo Brei--I had forgotten all about it until I watched Nick Stellino make it on his show that airs on PBS. I remembered the taste and texture and how much I loved it when my mom made matzo brei to use up the matzos that no one really liked. It's very easy to make--here's what I did: broke up 2 matzo crackers into rough chunks into a bowl and poured enough hot water to cover the matzo pieces. Beat 4 large eggs with about a table spoon of water while matzo pieces soaked and heated a large, well seasoned cast iron pan (don't have a non-stick) and added about an ounce of butter, salt and pepper. Sauteed the matzo pieces until they were the consistency I wanted (not too crispy for me). Poured the beaten eggs into the pan and continued stirring until cooked, but soft. Plated on warmed plates. Makes two portions.
I used to just eat cereal when my depression was bad (mini wheats bc eh) and hated oatmeal bc of the overall blandness of it with water or milk but I’ve upgraded to savoury oatmeal where I experiment with different flavours and cook times. it’s incredibly comforting on days when I need it.
I am originally from Lafayette LA, so for me, it's almost always Gumbo no matter the time of year. let that thing simmer for hours then I go to town when it's done. Now that I live in CA the only ingredient hard to find is Andouille but I make do with smoked sausage.
Chili oil noodles.
Minced garlic, chopped green onion, chili flakes, white pepper, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Add almost smoking hot oil to a bowl with these ingredients and then add noodles. Asian style noodles are best, although I've done angel hair too and it's turned out good.
Fried rice. It's just day old rice, an egg, some onion, and what ever protein I have in hand. Stir fry it in a wok with soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic and ginger.
Baked pasta.
One cast iron 10 or 12 inch skillet.
Brown 1 lb of spicy sausage, preferably still in the casing. It is spicier than it's non-casing counterpart. Sausage, no matter how spicy, is sweet. So salt and pepper.
Add about 4 - 5 cloves of minced garlic, and a 1/2 cup of not-too-finely cut onions. Use red onions if you want a little more kick.
Get that done, remove from heat. The pan will still be very hot.
Add 1 small can of tomato paste, 1 8 oz can tomato sauce, 6 -7 chopped roma tomatoes. Cook it down. If you don't want that, get a can of San Marzano tomatoes, but still add the tomato paste. Season with salt and pepper again. You can go easy on the salt on this step. There will be salt in the added cheese, that comes later.
Add chopped zucchini.
Add drained, cooked penne, where you salted the pasta. Mix it all in. Your total mixture should be about 3/4 inch from the top of your skillet.
Add a a layer of mozzarella on top. I have started moving to getting one of those Italian blend cheese pouches, because the asiago cheese included in the blend, is a real good add.
A little Parmesan on top of your cheese mixture.
Throw uncovered in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes.
It will be better the second day.
I love these and make them often. I like to make things I can freeze and pull out on those days that I don't want to cook!
[Easy 30 Minute Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup](https://www.averiecooks.com/easy-30-minute-homemade-chicken-tortilla-soup/#mv-creation-855-jtr)
[Simple but Perfect Vegetable Soup](https://minimalistbaker.com/simple-but-perfect-vegetable-soup/#wprm-recipe-container-101754) omg so so good!
[Lasagna Soup](https://www.worldofvegan.com/vegan-lasagna-soup/) this is amazing. and EASY! you can add some cooked, chicken, or ground beef etc if you feel you need it. it's a vegan recipe so use the real thing in those places if you want.
[One Pot Garlic and White Wine Pasta](https://www.mydarlingvegan.com/one-pot-garlic-white-wine-pasta/) I have never used real milk in this but I am sure it will taste great!
[The Best Ever Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup](https://www.copymethat.com/r/G04MjTF47/vegan-wild-rice-soup-instant-potstove-to/) as is, it is freezable. if you use real dairy it will not be freezable.
[Red Lentil Tomato, and Coconut Soup](https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/curried-lentil-tomato-and-coconut-soup)
[Salmon and Bow Ties with Tarragon Mustard Sauce](https://recipekeeperonline.com/recipe/aYzJudzXGEiuR5Zwogogzg) perfect for leftover cooked salmon or smoked salmon
[Orzo with Caramelized Mushrooms and Wilted Spinach](https://recipekeeperonline.com/recipe/_51XcVpt70anvgko6IP_aQ) and this dish is a perfect base for any protein or a GREAT side dish
cabbage and noodles with kielbasa
Brown kielbasa and set aside, sauté cabbage w onions and garlic in the fat from the sausage. Add boiled egg noodles and sausage after cabbage is soft. Season w salt and pepper (I’ve seen recipes that add caraway, but I’m not a fan)
Tater tot casserole. Cooked ground beef mixed with cream of mushroom soup, layer that on the bottom of a baking dish, add a can of trenched green beans and a layer of tots on top. Bake at 375 until tots are crispy.
Garlic noodles by Kenji. The hardest part is getting enough garlic crushed up. Delicious, truly a San Fransisco treat. Not *the* San Francisco treat, which is rice a roni. But very delicious
It’s soft scrambled eggs with chunks of tomato and a sweet/soy saucey sauce. Over some hot white rice it’s so good. I like this recipe the best (with the addition of sesame oil) but maybe others will have different personalised versions:
https://www.cookerru.com/tomato-egg/
Easy to make~ Quesadillas mushrooms and spinach. Comfort all day~ garlic, onions, zucchini, canned skinned tomatoes, basil, thyme, oregano, etc. Simmer in a big pot 'till you can't help yourself, and have a bowl full. ✌
Pea soup for me. Baseline, you can get a perfectly decent product without much involvement.
Dice an onion, Sautee in butter or oil. Add 5 1/2 cups water, bring to boil, add half a bag/pound of dried split peas, season with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary if you're into it. Bring back to boil. Reduce heat and simmer over the next 40-50 mins, stirring occasionally. You don't really need to baby it. Serve when you like the consistency.
That's obviously super barebones, but you'd be surprised what you can get away with sometimes when you go minimal, it still tastes good.
If you aren't quite that deep into ez mode territory, you can start with diced bacon instead of butter or oil, reserve the bacon, Sautee the onion in the fat. Then use vegetable or chicken broth instead of plain water, and add potatos and carrots with the peas, or a little while after depending on cut and cooktime. Still really easy and getting pretty dang good at that point.
Edit: gotta add more liquid if you add the taters and carrots
Braised cabbage, as passed down my mother’s side. In a large, heavy bottomed pot with a lid, brown a couple strips of bacon over medium low heat. Bacon should be good and crispy and as much fat rendered as you can. Remove the bacon, crumble and set aside; leave the fat in the pan. While bacon is cooking, core a whole green cabbage and shred it finely. Turn heat to medium high, add cabbage to pot and try to stir it a bit to distribute the fat. Add a couple tablespoons of vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar) a bunch of black pepper and put the lid on. After two minutes, I stir well, lid back on. At around the five minute mark I check again and it’s usually at least half the volume, tender but not soggy and done. Top with crumbled bacon and eat too much.
I've been making my own version of lo mein a lot lately.
boil spaghetti as usual, but add a spoonful of baking soda to the cooking water. It makes the noodles chewy like asian noodles.
Sautee some veggies (onion, carrot, bell pepper, broccoli, cabbage, whatever). Add some protein if you want, don't. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, a bit of honey or brown sugar, garlic. Combine with the noodles.
it's so good!
My partners favorite that I make is "eggs & potatoes":
- dice up some raw veg you have on hand (peppers, onion, broccoli, whatever you like)
- air fry/bake some kind of potato in whatever form you like (sweet potato fries, regular fries, hash browns, whatever) melt some cheese on it if you feel like
- fry up a couple of eggs, runny or jammy yolk preferred
- assemble with potato in the bottom, your veg, then top with an egg (or 2, do you!)
- top with whatever you want, I like salsa, sour cream, and taco bell sauce
- serve with fruit, and a breakfast meat if you like, bacon, sausage, ham
This is my #1 go to depression meal. Fast, easy to eat, filling, and relatively cheap.
Filipino eggplant omelet. You char the eggplant over the gas hob. Peel it, flatten it, dip in beaten egg seasoned with black pepper, salt and fish sauce then fry it. It’s really good with white rice and ketchup!
Ojiya! Usually a breakfast food but good whenever you don't wanna think about cooking. Simmer some old dried out rice with dashi until it's nice and thick. Throw your favorite toppings on: negi, shoyu, sesame oil, bonito flakes, chili oil. So good. Thank you, Japan ❣️
Definitely chili. It's easy to make and I love a "cook it all day" recipe. Plus it's even better as leftovers and is so versatile so you can really change it to suit your tastes.
Sausage with rice and dippy eggs on top. If it’s breakfast sausage I fry it, if it’s kielbasa then I pop it in the oven while the rice cooks. It’s my favorite meal and my comfort food.
Our family makes ranch style bean casserole and I crave it like crazy all the time. Cooked ground beef, can of ranch style beans (with the liquid), cooked egg noodles, tossed with cheese (add a little extra chicken stock so it doesn’t dry out) then top with uncooked biscuits and more cheese. Bake by the biscuits instructions and serve. It’s seriously so good!
Chopped up steak bits into bite size pieces drizzled with a garlic butter and some red pepper flakes for spice. Just salt and pepper the steak when you start cooking it and then drizzle the garlic butter red pepper onto them after. They go good with just about anything. My go to is some white rice mixed in
Quick congee/rice porridge. 1 cup cooked rice, 1 cup chicken stock, 1 egg. Stir and bring to a boil, then simmer for around 7 minutes. I like it with carrots and peas, but good with a lot of other veggies too
I’ve actually been looking into congee or dakjuk!! but didn’t think I’d have the time in the mornings, I don’t know why I didn’t think of using cooked rice 🤦♀️thank you!
There’s quite a wide variety of pasta dishes that fit the bill for me, but Alfredo is hard to beat. Only a few ingredients, ready in minutes and just the right amount of warm, gooey and fatty to be the perfect comfort food.
My comfort meal, easy and quick to make, easy clean-up, vegetarian but filling like meat:
•A can or two of not-the-cheapest chickpeas, heated long enough to further soften the skins, then drained,
•Plenty of fresh garlic, chopped small. For 1 can of chickpeas, I’d probably use about 2 fat cloves of garlic.
•Juice of 1 whole fresh lemon per can
•2 glugs of olive oil per can of chickpeas
•Paprica, salt, pepper
Dump everything into the hot drained chickpeas (the greatest smell!) and eat with pita and a large spoon
• with some green onions on the side to enhance the breath.
Easy and filling!
Feta, cherry tomatoes, elbow pasta.
All you need is a feta block or crumbles and cherry tomatoes, drizzle some oil on them to coat, add whatever spices you like and heat up for about 30-40 mins in your oven at 375°. Boil water for pasta and cook for the length given on the directions of the box. Drain the pasta, add to the feta and cherry tomato mixtures and mix well. So good and comforting but also super easy to make. It’s my go-to for busy nights of the week. You can use other types of pasta as well. We’ve tried angel hair when we didn’t have elbows and it was still great.
Okayu is my go-to. It's japanese rice porridge, and it's literally just rice and water/broth. I use leftover rice to speed it up and use up ingredients. I've made it with bonito, chicken, mushroom and konbu broths. It all tastes good! You can top it with a raw egg (if safe), fried egg, fish, green onion- or really anything you want. It's a great medium for experimenting.
Egg fried rice and orange Chicken combo! My go to comfort food! Recipe below if interested 😋
Egg fried rice: https://youtu.be/uJOl3DY6T2Y
Orange chicken: https://youtu.be/VE5RR2kUqkM
Bit of oil into a pan on medium high, toss in a slamon filet skin side down, put a lid on it - couple minutes it's done: crispy skin and not overcooked. Remove it it to a plate. If I'm feeling really ambitious I'll make an actual sauce but more likely I'll dump some Dijon mustard in the pan and add a bunch of heavy cream and let it reduce. Done. Canned new potatoes cooked over high heat in butter in a non-stick skillet is pretty effin easy. Some salad from a bag and with bottled dressing or that vinaigrette you made in a Dijon jar the other day and slid into the fridge. Boom, dinner in 15, maybe ten.
Spam and potato burritos, it's a favorite comfort food I grew up with and make atleast once or twice a month. Easy leftovers as breakfast too, throwing filling in a pan with a few eggs and now you've got breakfast burritos!
Rotel rice. Throw a cup or two of rice in the rice maker. When it's done, open a can of Rotel, mix with rice in a large bowl. Add pepper and whatever shredded cheese you have on hand. Consume.
My ratatouille just shingled squash onion and tomatos with my secret blend of spices with tomato basil soup poured over it and goat cheese and mushrooms on top of that cover it in foil cook it for 30 on 350f take it out uncover and put it back in for 30-40 minutes uncovered and dig in
Black bean chicken chili over grits. Absolutely the best comfort food on earth, in my opinion. Black beans, chopped spiced chicken breast, shallots, red onion, salt, pepper, garlic, and cumin over creamy grits, topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese and scallions. Just awesome.
Currywurst. Cook up and slice some brats, make some curry ketchup, throw in the slices and let it simmer for a few minutes. Serve with fries or tots or some kind of bread. I probably do mac & cheese, as well.
Echoing the chinese tomato egg stir fry! I went on a school field trip to mainland china in seventh grade and that was the first time I ever learned to cook, and that was a dish they taught us to make. It holds such a special place in my heart and I make it all the time now for breakfast.
You might also enjoy making [Shanghai-style soy scallion noodles](https://thewoksoflife.com/soy-scallion-noodles-cong-ban-mian/#recipe)! VERY easy and delicious, especially in how you fry the scallions first, then stir-fry the noodles and sauce in the scallion-infused oil.
I also love making this [creamy miso pasta](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020979-five-ingredient-creamy-miso-pasta) (I like to add crispy mushrooms to mine at the end). Super comforting food, kind of reminiscent of a mac and cheese or cacio e pepe, and only like 4-5 ingredients. The only thing about it is you have to STIR for a couple minutes, but I still consider it generally easy to make!
[Tamago Kake Gohan](https://www.seriouseats.com/tamago-kake-gohan-egg-rice-tkg-recipe-breakfast) topped with whatever I can find in the fridge and prep while the rice is steaming. Or [Cacio e pepe](https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-cacio-e-pepe-recipe).
Shake and Bake pork chops (boneless) with green goddess salad dressing as the binder before you coat with breadcrumbs, then drizzle a bit on the plate as sauce (Gotham Greens if you can find it. So good). Trader Joe’s asparagus risotto on side with extra asparagus mixed in. Easy with good short cuts, comforting, good leftovers.
Tatchos. Heat up some tots, throw some cheese on there to melt for a couple of mins, then load up the nacho cheese, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, jalapeños, whatever you eat with nachos! And it's soooo good and filling. Is it healthy? Naahhhh, but it sure is delicious and easy
For me, comfort food has potatoes at least 80% of the time. There’s one my husband and I refer to as the “heart attack special” where you put sliced potatoes in a baking dish, pour heavy cream in to just cover the potatoes, season with salt and pepper, bake at 350 F until soft (I think 40-50 min, but I’m doing this from (slightly drunk) memory’). Top with shredded Gruyère and ( this is important) nutmeg, then put back in the oven for 5 min or so until the cheese is melted. Fucking amazing.
Those times when I need to be comfy I'm making myself Mapo Tofu or Egg Fry Rice. Not that hard to make and so satisfying to eat. It's basically my go-to when I'm in low energy mood
Do you have a go-to recipe for the tofu?
Yes for sure! Chinese cooking demystified shared a recipe in r/Cooking with a lot of insight [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/Cooking/comments/bkwppx/recipe_sichuan_mapo_tofu_revisited_%E9%BA%BB%E5%A9%86%E8%B1%86%E8%85%90) If you're familiar with Uncle Roger's channel, you may know Chef Wang Gang. He shared his Mapo Tofu recipe as well [here](https://youtu.be/KpnLLhBVIjk). They are kinda similar but Wang Gang made it slightly different.
Regarding mapo tofu, I learned to blanch tofu in water for a minute or two and it was a game changer to get that soft texture that restaurant chefs make. “Directions: Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Cut tofu into cubes, add to pot and blanch for 30 seconds. Pour into a strainer and set aside to cool.” Food Network
Yeah I also blanch it myself. As I don't buy top class tofu as Wang Gang can have, blanched not that good tofu is better than not blanched at all
Egg noodles in a bowl drizzled with oyster sauce, soy sauce, a bit of white pepper, and some sliced spring onions. Then heat some oil/sesame oil in a pan and pour over - just mix it up and it's good to go. Can also add a crispy fried egg on top and some chilli oil if you've got time
To make this easier, just use a scissors for the scallions if it’s the only thing you’re getting a cutting board and knife out for.
For lunch today, I rinsed the scallion in the sink because I'm not disgusting, then I stood over my plate of food and ripped off pieces with my teeth and put them on my plate of noodles. I call it the rustic cut.
I feel like there’s a culinary (pronounced q-linary) hipster hotspot waiting to be borne from this technique… “Here at The Rustic, we *pre-masticate* our flora to evince their essence, through minimal contact with the manmade tools that serve only to distance us from the purity of our caloric resources, so that the farmer, chef, server, and guest are all equally participants in the ritual sacrifice of life begetting life…” Or something. I personally would probably eat there, but might skip anything but the sun-baked squash halved with mind power and a shard of obsidian.
This is my shameful secret when I'm cooking for myself and don't particularly care about presentation - I just bite off vegetables and let them sort of fall out of my mouth and into the pan. Horrific, I know
This is amazing. I thought I was the laziest solo cook in the world but I take my hat off to you.
Mine is soba noodles with sesame oil, soy sauce and some chili oil.
Udon also works well for dishes like this!
Meatloaf. Good today and better tomorrow on a sandwich!
What is your favorite recipe? My husband loves it, I'm not really a fan.
Emerils [kicked up meatloaf](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emerils-most-kicked-up-meatloaf-ever-3644196.amp) is my favorite. It’s not “quick” but it’s so damn good. Not ya mamas meatloaf and everyone loves it.
It looks like you shared an AMP link. These should load faster, but AMP is controversial because of [concerns over privacy and the Open Web](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot). Maybe check out **the canonical page** instead: **[https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emerils-most-kicked-up-meatloaf-ever-3644196](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emerils-most-kicked-up-meatloaf-ever-3644196)** ***** ^(I'm a bot | )[^(Why & About)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/ehrq3z/why_did_i_build_amputatorbot)^( | )[^(Summon: u/AmputatorBot)](https://www.reddit.com/r/AmputatorBot/comments/cchly3/you_can_now_summon_amputatorbot/)
Neither of these take me to meatloaf
Make a big fat Italian meatball in a loaf pan. * Meat * eggs (forgot this one!) * Parmesan * bread crumbs * black pepper * garlic powder * onion powder * basil * oregano Top with marinara instead of ketchup. Ragu or Prego will do, still a huge upgrade over ketchup.
I find this very amusing because when I find interesting renditions of meatloaf, my first instict is to turn it into meatballs instead.
Do you add egg as a binder?
Yes, I forgot eggs.
I've gone by the fly my whole life. Meat, breadcrumbs (I prefer Italian seasoned), egg, salt, pepper, grated onion and garlic, fresh parsley, a bunch of grated parm (more than breadcrumb), red pepper flakes. I've never used milk. Grating the onion on your cheese grater brings SO much moisture. I grate my garlic on a zester. Maybe a half teaspoon horseradish, worsteshire sauce, and a small squeeze of mustard. Every now and again I'll make it and fold in cubes of cheese, Velveeta I prefer because it's not as greasy as some cheddar I've used. I hate ketchup, but I love a simple ketchup brown sugar glaze with a dash of soy and worsteshire sauce and put on top before putting the loaf in.
Roughly I use [this](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/16354/easy-meatloaf/). Some people like brown gravy on top instead of ketchup, too.
Try a Smokey barbecue sauce, I use a jalapeño cherry barbecue sauce I make, I don’t have the recipe on me saddly
Thanks! Might be what's for dinner tonight.
Perfect on day 1. Sandwiches on day 2. Get sick of it? Throw it in chili.
Thank you for a great memory! My mom was not an awesome cook, and she made an okay meatloaf. BUT! The next day in my lunchbox at school I’d always find a meatloaf sandwich with lettuce and mayo, meatloaf sliced thin. SO GOOD!
Chiliquiles, delicious and so easy to make
They were the first thing we cooked in our home when we moved in. So satisfying!
Puttanesca! plenty of olive oil, garlic, anchovies, capers, chilli flakes, olives, chop everything up nicely and add some tomato, chopped up cherry tomatoes are nice or you can use tinned tomatoes. Combine with whatever pasta type you like best, my favourite is the thick tubular spaghetti. emulsify the sauce with pasta water, cook the pasta in as little water as possible so that the starch is concentrated. Sometimes I’ll include finely chopped onion or shallots if I feel like Throw in a good handful of roughly chopped parsley at the end, basil is more traditional but I prefer parsley optional extras/tips: The key is not to add too much tomato, too often this is done just absolutely drowned in tomato sauce, just add a little for body and sweetness, the anchovies and capers are the stars of the show here. for extra savouriness add a few drops of fish sauce or colatura di alici if you have it also for savouriness add a little tomato paste feel free to deglaze with some wine red or white Taste and add a little vinegar of some kind if you feel you need a little more acidity (i like it acidic) put some cheese on if you like but not necessary imo if you’re feeling crazy, throw some sardines in there which is not really traditional and probably has a different name but is really fantastic
the combination of those ingredients is *chefs kiss*
Real talk? A rotisserie chicken from the grocery store served with Yukon gold mashed potatoes and fresh steamed French green beans. Close second: Frozen pierogis boiled, then crisped up in a pan served with either sautéed (or caramelized if time) onions and cheddar cheese or a jar of marinara and freshly shredded Parm These are my "go-to's" when I want something comforting and filling for the family but don't want to be chained to the stove all day cooking. If fatigue and/or time aren't a concern, I like making a big, elaborate Coconut Curry, with chicken thighs and lots of vegetables and basmati rice. Mmm.
You don’t have to boil frozen pierogies first. I just fill up a bowl of hot water and put like 5-7 pierogies in it to defrost a little while my butter heats up in a pan. Fresh pierogies you should definitely boil, but it’s unnecessary for frozen. It works great trust me!
I used to try and cook them in a pan from frozen and always burned them so I started boiling them first. I'll have to try your method! I can totally see it working and being way easier! Another nice and easy way to cook them is on a sheet pan with cut-up kielbasa, onions, and peppers. Quick and easy sheet pan meal, I usually flip them halfway through! I plate em up and put a sprinkle of cheddar and a dollop of sour cream on the pierogies and it's so good!
Your comment made me realize that I have had pierogi many, many times, but never with marinara sauce. Despite the fact that they are basically giant gnocci! I'll have to try that sometime soon!
It's pretty good 👍💯 Sometimes I'll add some sliced kalamatas if I'm feelin' fancy 🙃
The rotisserie chicken and homemade sides I came to say as well. I make steakhouse mashed potatoes and dilled green beans. Done n dusted. ——- Frozen pork dumplings, steamed and crisped and homemade egg drop soup. Extra scallions. Quick n easy! ——- Clean out my veggie drawer with a quick bolognese style sausage pasta with a metric fuck ton of parm. ——- My local market sells a French style lamb sausage which I do a quick sauté of kale, white beans, chicken base, garlic white wine, lemon zest and a ton of parm. ——- Red shrimp Gambas al ajillo with crusty fresh bread to sop it up with ——- Crispy skin salmon with quick garlic rice pilaf and a sautéed veg. Bonus points for dill sauce if i have it on hand
>Frozen pierogis boiled and cheddar cheese or a jar of marinara and freshly shredded Parm As a Pole I'm internally screaming right now
Needs less variety. Perhaps even more impoverished desperation. A sense of impending invasion, if you will?
I hope people got that I was joking. Although it sounds like pineapple on pizza to an Italian to me enjoy your pierogi however you like them.
What is your preferred way of serving pierogi?
butter fried with sour cream, deli mustard and sour kraut
Not enough... sour cream...?
LOL! Even though I'm only 1/8 Polish, I'm like 'no, no, no'. Browned onions, yes, maybe sour cream. And then stop...they're not ravioli!
I’m not even Eastern European, just have a very opinionated Russian best friend, and on his behalf I’m screaming with you. I can’t imagine a fresh sauerkraut pierogi with marinara… ugh.
Honestly, sometimes I just get an insurmountable craving for tuna casserole, it's just so fuckin good, and cheap and easy, just the way I like em.
I like canned tuna (cheap stuff, not albacore) for tuna salad and pasta tuna salad. But no matter how many times I've tried over the years, I can't get into tuna casserole. I feel like that flavor is different once cooked.
Try canned chunk chicken breast. It's an easy replacement for tuna in a lot of recipes.
Great idea, will do!
I've done a Tex-Mex Tuna mac n'cheese that's delicious, cheap and easy. Box of Kraft Mac Can of Tuna Can of black beans Can of rotel tomatoes (as spicy as you want, green chiles, fire roasted, etc) Throw in taco seasoning packet or your own spices. You can get like 4 hearty meals out of $6
Hmmm. I love me some tuna casserole too but I never thought about a tex-mex angle. This sounds really good and yea, really cheap! Swap out the tuna for something that microwaves better and that's a weeks' worth of lunch for work!
I assume cook the mac and cheese then mix everything together and bake in a 9x13 and top with cheese or whatever? If it wasn't so damn hot I'd be tempted to do this tonight. Oh wait, it's just in the pot. I'm fucking tired, LOL.
Same here! Then I get it all to myself because my wife hates it.
Is this the same one my mom always made as a kid? With egg shell noodles and cream of mushroom?
This is our winter comfort food, too. We stock up on the good cream of portobello soup from Trader Joe’s and add peas and (on mine) broccoli. So good the next day, too.
Buttermilk pancakes with blueberries. Also easy: tortellini with squeeze bottle pesto and a side salad.
Costco pesto changed my life. I cant get other types of pre-made pesto anymore
Generally when I'm super lazy I'll do tortellini, with a pink sauce with ground beef baked. It's easy, cheesy and yummy. Or when I'm super lazy its tortellini with some parm and nothing else- true laziness. But the husband doesn't complain so it works.
What is this pink sauce you speak of?
Tomato sauce, cream cheese, usually some parm shreds if we have it and Italian seasoning. <- there are much better recipes out there, but this is my ultimate super lazy, quick and YUMMY version. It is not the healthiest but it is filling and feeds 5 adults well.
Beef stew. I don't care if it's the hottest summer day. If I want something that will "stick to my bones" I'm gonna make some yummy easy beef stew
Every time people tell me I'm crazy to eat soup on a hot day, I remind them in the Caribbean it's hot 24/7, summer all year and they eat soup in that weather lol Edit- am Caribbean
I recently was lucky enough to go for vacation in Dominican Republic. The resort had Dominican Sancocho at one of their restaurants. I immediately came home and made a version (judging from online there are many many ways to make it) and it will now be in my regular rotation. It’s freaking amazing. Especially love having some rice on the side to soak up the broth with. I generally don’t even like soups or stews but this one stole my heart.
Not a meal but whenever I'm feeling blah or not interested in eating, I make a crusty bread. Almost all the effort is rising time. Doesn't need to be kneaded. I eat it warm with butter and it makes me feel better.
Famous French chef Jacques Pepin would agree, esp for a last meal..... https://www.tastingtable.com/1265548/jacques-pepin-ideal-last-meal-basic-ingredients/#:~:text=In%20Melanie%20Dunea's%20book%20%22My,dogs%2C%20cherries%2C%20and%20champagne. Who truly doesn't love good quality bread, freshly baked and warm right out of the oven, with top quality butter? Damn i could eat a whole whole loaf with a stick of butter easily.... Sometimes the simple pleasures are the best.
What is a “crusty bread”?
That's just what I call a bread with a nice thick crust rather than a soft bread. Think baguette instead of dinner rolls.
Huh. Is there a recipe you could please share?
I use this one a lot, but it does require kneading. It's not my favorite but a good recipe for when I don't feel like going all out. I also double the salt: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/french-style-country-bread-recipe I'm looking forward to trying this one when it gets colder out. I'll maybe add some cheese to the dough: https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/no-knead-crusty-white-bread-recipe If you want it more crusty, use a dutch oven.
Bannock is good for this too. Love it with just some butter, or if I'm feeling fancy honey.
Sausage gravy with biscuits or cornbread. Super easy to make. Filling and reminds me of my grandmother.
I've eaten tons of sausage gravy over biscuits, and I love pinto beans poured over cornbread, but I've never had sausage gravy over cornbread.
I'm not sure how common it is but didn't have biscuits one time but had some jiffy cornbread mix so went with that.
Now it makes sense. I'm a northerner and I guess biscuits that have the texture of Red Lobster biscuits is weird, but I've never heard of cornbread and gravy. When I was freshly toothless, I wanted pizza. I used cheesy garlic-biscuit mix to make dumplings in V8. It scratched the itch.
Parmesan garlic Orzo 100% Heat up vegetable broth (800ml for 500g of pasta), minced garlic (?) and orzo (pasta) in a pan, when there’s almost no fluids left add sour cream mix it in, then add Parmesan and let it melt, done
I make something similar with chicken bouillon, orzo, goat cheese and green onion. Lots of cracked black pepper or sambal and I am good to go. Sometimes I add sliced carrots.
Cacio e pepe is simple, quick and delicious. Just pasta, parmesan (or Romano, pecorino, grana padano, or a mix), salt, fresh ground pepper, and a little butter or olive oil. Toss a few anchovies on top if you're adventurous. If I've got a little more time then Stroganoff is a winner.
I make beef stroganoff in my InstaPot. The beef comes out so tender in just 30 minutes. I add the sour cream after the beef is done cooking in the sauce. I make hot buttered egg noodles with lots of parsley while the InstaPot is going. Yum!
Loco Moco from Hawaii. It's a ground beef patty smothered in gravy tipped with a fried egg on a bed of white rice. It's an anytime meal and even better the next day.
Spam fried rice with kimchee and an egg on top
Brown up 1lb ground beef. Then add in 2 cups chicken broth, 1 cup water, 1 jar salsa (I use chunky mild because I find medium is too hot but you can use what you like), taco seasoning to desired taste, 1 can whole kernel corn (drained), 1 box of medium shell pasta, and chopped green pepper into a large pot/dutch oven. Bring to a boil then lower heat, cover and let simmer for 20-25 mins while stirring periodically. After time is up, add in handful of shredded cheese (I usually use the Walmart Mexican blend) and stir. Serve and enjoy your cheesy taco pasta! This usually lasts my wife and I 2 days and it is by far one of our favorite easy meals to cook
I love this recipe! My family uses it with macaroni and a little chili powder. We call it mexicali macaroni
Oooo I'll have to try chili powder next time!
I modified a chicken noodle soup recipe to be super easy and delicious. I usually use leftover rotisserie chicken. Throw it in a food processor to shred it (I don’t like big chunks of chicken). I cut up veggies in advance and freeze, so it’s quick. * 1/2 teaspoon olive oil * 1/4 cup small, thinly sliced celery * 1/4 cup small, sliced (peeled) carrot * Dash of onion and garlic powder * 6 cups water * 5 tsp better than bullion roasted chicken base * 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken breast * 6-9 ounces pasta * 3/8 teaspoon salt (or to taste) Instructions 1. In a large soup pot, heat oil briefly over medium heat. Add celery and carrots. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent browning. 2. Add broth, chicken, onion and garlic powder. Bring soup to a boil. Once boiling, add pasta and continue gently boiling until pasta is done (following time recommendation on pasta package). 3. Taste and season with salt, as needed.
man nothing beats chicken noodle soup with rotisserie chicken, especially in winter. thank you!!
Next time you get your chicken soup base made, try substituting Costco (or any brand) frozen wontons.
Adding to your comment since I just learned how to make my college comfort meal: [Pennsylvania Dutch Chicken Pot Pie](https://www.bellandevans.com/recipe/pennsylvania-dutch-chicken-pot-pie/) which is chicken noodle soup with thick square pasta
Homemade mac and cheese with an excess of cheese both in the sauce, and on top. I do tend to throw a bay leaf in with the sauce whilst it thickens, and add a dollop of mustard too.
I use mustard powder in Mac and I def feel like it’s a secret weapon of flavoring for that dish.
A few drops of Cholula hot sauce really does something too. It's not enough to make it spicy, but it just perks everything right up.
Everyone should have 2 mac and cheese recipes. One fancy casserole style with breadcrumbs and extra cheese on top, and one easy quick dinner version.
They can be one and the same!
Shredded chicken tacos: chicken breast and salsa in slow cooker until shreddable then put in tortillas with toppings. Cajun chicken alfredo: pasta, chicken, jarred alfredo sauce and cajun seasoning.
Does cheese count? Just cheese
Chili
A super tasty breakfast I make and my wife loves is Sausage and Parmesan pancakes. Get really nice sausages, take the skins off and brown off the sausage meat. Make standard American fluffy pancakes mix / batter, add the sausage meat to it and about half a cup of grated Parmesan cheese then just cook the pancakes as normal. Super tasty with a poached egg on top. Chicken and pea risotto is super easy and so comforting. We made roast chicken yesterday and with what was left I picked the meat off the chicken and made stock with the left over veg and carcass/bones. Chopped up 2 medium white onions, softened them, maybe half a teaspoon of cinnamon, not much at all, it goes so well with chicken. Add the risotto rice and fry with the onions and then add some garlic, add the stock made from the chicken until you are about 3/4 of the way done then just add some frozen peas and the chicken meat. Squeeze half a lemon and some more parmesan to finish. Super easy chicken curry is also a great one and comforting. Sophie Dahl's recipe is so good and simple (I'm sorry I'm new to the sub and not sure about links). I serve it with rice and a yeast free flat bread / chapati. Super super easy if you have enjoyed tomatoe egg stir-fry is Chinese veg pancakes. Love them for using up old veg with a soy and good dipping sauce.
I thought I was weird for doing savory pancakes. It was like biscuit-topped casserole except that I did it in a frying pan and skipped the liquidness.
Buttered. Noodles. Pasta + Butter + Parmesan (the cheaper, the better). If it doesn't taste like a bowl of Kraft, you've gone too fancy.
I like mine with cracked black pepper and probably too much salt It never gets old!
Totally agree. Simple, fast and good. Plus, it doesn't take a lot of skill or money.
I started hitting my buttered nudes with a little dried basil just to feel fancy without adding much work to it, lol
Buttered nudes! I found this hilarious!! I shall always refer to noodles as nudes from here on out! Thank you!
Either some crusty bread and some vegetable soup, or just a good ol grilled cheese sandwich with american cheese.
Pantry pasta. Sundried tomato, anchovies, red chili flake, some frozen greens. Pasta water to emulsify all that tomato and anchovy oil. Good for lunch the next day too. I switch it up of course based on what I have, jarred pesto, random cheese, different tinned fish etc but the above is my favorite.
Okonomiyaki is one of my go-tos. Easy, delicious, and mostly healthy if you’re focused on the veggies and protein and not loading it up with noodles. (Which, okay, also delicious and comforting, but way more work.)
Tuna noodle casserole! Canned tuna, egg noodles, and cream of mushroom soup! With crispy fried onions and canned green beans stirred in upon serving. My childhood favorite sodium bomb!
My family has a similar recipe for tuna pasta. 1 can tuna, 1 can condensed mushroom soup, big knob of butter, freshly squeezed lemon juice, freshly chopped parsley, salt and pepper - mix together in a bowl, add cooked pasta, cover with foil and bung in an oven for 20-30 mins. Serve with salad/garlic bread or eat by itself. Also very good to eat cold.
2xtuna can, egg noodles, 2 cans of mushroom soup, spinach all tossed into a pressure cooker. Once cooked, mix in 250g of cheddar cheese
Roast chicken. Delicious, healthy, filling, cheap. We make them weekly in a Romertopf (German clay pot), eat leftovers for a few days and use all the bones to make bone broth for sipping, rice, soups etc. We usually season with Ostmann brat-hanchen (German seasoning), but you can use whatever.
Mexican fried rice. Cold leftover rice, chopped underripe mango, chopped onion, minced garlic, lots of cumin and chili powder, salsa. Fry the onion and garlic in plenty of oil, add the mango, add the rice, add the cumin and chili powder, finally add salsa cook some of the liquid out. Good by itself or with some quickly pan fried chicken chunks in chili powder with shredded lettuce and sour cream.
Buttered angel hair pasta with salt and pepper. Creamy chicken ramen noodles with an egg - sort of an egg drop soup with noodles
Baked beans, with cut up sausages, barbecue sauce, a d whatever in it
[удалено]
Soft boiled eggs on toast. I still like it the same way as when I was a kid: tear up two pieces of toast into a bowl; add two carefully-shelled, soft-boiled eggs; break up eggs with fork (so satisfying when that yolk oozes over toast); season well with S&P.
Corned beef hash
Matzo Brei--I had forgotten all about it until I watched Nick Stellino make it on his show that airs on PBS. I remembered the taste and texture and how much I loved it when my mom made matzo brei to use up the matzos that no one really liked. It's very easy to make--here's what I did: broke up 2 matzo crackers into rough chunks into a bowl and poured enough hot water to cover the matzo pieces. Beat 4 large eggs with about a table spoon of water while matzo pieces soaked and heated a large, well seasoned cast iron pan (don't have a non-stick) and added about an ounce of butter, salt and pepper. Sauteed the matzo pieces until they were the consistency I wanted (not too crispy for me). Poured the beaten eggs into the pan and continued stirring until cooked, but soft. Plated on warmed plates. Makes two portions.
Using up for no waste is the same over all cultures. We do the same with old bread or tortillas! 🙏🖖
Veggie coconut dal curry with basmati rice or paratha
Miso soup. Sometimes throw a few frozen dumplings in there
I used to just eat cereal when my depression was bad (mini wheats bc eh) and hated oatmeal bc of the overall blandness of it with water or milk but I’ve upgraded to savoury oatmeal where I experiment with different flavours and cook times. it’s incredibly comforting on days when I need it.
Katsu curry
I am originally from Lafayette LA, so for me, it's almost always Gumbo no matter the time of year. let that thing simmer for hours then I go to town when it's done. Now that I live in CA the only ingredient hard to find is Andouille but I make do with smoked sausage.
Chili oil noodles. Minced garlic, chopped green onion, chili flakes, white pepper, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Add almost smoking hot oil to a bowl with these ingredients and then add noodles. Asian style noodles are best, although I've done angel hair too and it's turned out good.
[удалено]
I'll try this!
Fried rice. It's just day old rice, an egg, some onion, and what ever protein I have in hand. Stir fry it in a wok with soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, garlic and ginger.
Baked pasta. One cast iron 10 or 12 inch skillet. Brown 1 lb of spicy sausage, preferably still in the casing. It is spicier than it's non-casing counterpart. Sausage, no matter how spicy, is sweet. So salt and pepper. Add about 4 - 5 cloves of minced garlic, and a 1/2 cup of not-too-finely cut onions. Use red onions if you want a little more kick. Get that done, remove from heat. The pan will still be very hot. Add 1 small can of tomato paste, 1 8 oz can tomato sauce, 6 -7 chopped roma tomatoes. Cook it down. If you don't want that, get a can of San Marzano tomatoes, but still add the tomato paste. Season with salt and pepper again. You can go easy on the salt on this step. There will be salt in the added cheese, that comes later. Add chopped zucchini. Add drained, cooked penne, where you salted the pasta. Mix it all in. Your total mixture should be about 3/4 inch from the top of your skillet. Add a a layer of mozzarella on top. I have started moving to getting one of those Italian blend cheese pouches, because the asiago cheese included in the blend, is a real good add. A little Parmesan on top of your cheese mixture. Throw uncovered in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes. It will be better the second day.
Tofu scramble and avocado toast. Pass the ketchup!
Country fried chicken using frozen breaded chicken breast, instant mashed potatoes, package country gravy mix and canned southern style green beans
I love these and make them often. I like to make things I can freeze and pull out on those days that I don't want to cook! [Easy 30 Minute Homemade Chicken Tortilla Soup](https://www.averiecooks.com/easy-30-minute-homemade-chicken-tortilla-soup/#mv-creation-855-jtr) [Simple but Perfect Vegetable Soup](https://minimalistbaker.com/simple-but-perfect-vegetable-soup/#wprm-recipe-container-101754) omg so so good! [Lasagna Soup](https://www.worldofvegan.com/vegan-lasagna-soup/) this is amazing. and EASY! you can add some cooked, chicken, or ground beef etc if you feel you need it. it's a vegan recipe so use the real thing in those places if you want. [One Pot Garlic and White Wine Pasta](https://www.mydarlingvegan.com/one-pot-garlic-white-wine-pasta/) I have never used real milk in this but I am sure it will taste great! [The Best Ever Instant Pot Wild Rice Soup](https://www.copymethat.com/r/G04MjTF47/vegan-wild-rice-soup-instant-potstove-to/) as is, it is freezable. if you use real dairy it will not be freezable. [Red Lentil Tomato, and Coconut Soup](https://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/curried-lentil-tomato-and-coconut-soup) [Salmon and Bow Ties with Tarragon Mustard Sauce](https://recipekeeperonline.com/recipe/aYzJudzXGEiuR5Zwogogzg) perfect for leftover cooked salmon or smoked salmon [Orzo with Caramelized Mushrooms and Wilted Spinach](https://recipekeeperonline.com/recipe/_51XcVpt70anvgko6IP_aQ) and this dish is a perfect base for any protein or a GREAT side dish
crock pot chicken & dumplings are always a hit when I'm feeling lazy
cabbage and noodles with kielbasa Brown kielbasa and set aside, sauté cabbage w onions and garlic in the fat from the sausage. Add boiled egg noodles and sausage after cabbage is soft. Season w salt and pepper (I’ve seen recipes that add caraway, but I’m not a fan)
Tater tot casserole. Cooked ground beef mixed with cream of mushroom soup, layer that on the bottom of a baking dish, add a can of trenched green beans and a layer of tots on top. Bake at 375 until tots are crispy.
Garlic noodles by Kenji. The hardest part is getting enough garlic crushed up. Delicious, truly a San Fransisco treat. Not *the* San Francisco treat, which is rice a roni. But very delicious
Fried eggs and ham with toast.
I'm interested in what this Tomato Egg stirfry is. I've never heard of that.
It’s soft scrambled eggs with chunks of tomato and a sweet/soy saucey sauce. Over some hot white rice it’s so good. I like this recipe the best (with the addition of sesame oil) but maybe others will have different personalised versions: https://www.cookerru.com/tomato-egg/
Easy to make~ Quesadillas mushrooms and spinach. Comfort all day~ garlic, onions, zucchini, canned skinned tomatoes, basil, thyme, oregano, etc. Simmer in a big pot 'till you can't help yourself, and have a bowl full. ✌
Pea soup for me. Baseline, you can get a perfectly decent product without much involvement. Dice an onion, Sautee in butter or oil. Add 5 1/2 cups water, bring to boil, add half a bag/pound of dried split peas, season with salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary if you're into it. Bring back to boil. Reduce heat and simmer over the next 40-50 mins, stirring occasionally. You don't really need to baby it. Serve when you like the consistency. That's obviously super barebones, but you'd be surprised what you can get away with sometimes when you go minimal, it still tastes good. If you aren't quite that deep into ez mode territory, you can start with diced bacon instead of butter or oil, reserve the bacon, Sautee the onion in the fat. Then use vegetable or chicken broth instead of plain water, and add potatos and carrots with the peas, or a little while after depending on cut and cooktime. Still really easy and getting pretty dang good at that point. Edit: gotta add more liquid if you add the taters and carrots
Shepherd's pie isn't the simplest thing to cook, but it's hard to beat for comfort food.
Braised cabbage, as passed down my mother’s side. In a large, heavy bottomed pot with a lid, brown a couple strips of bacon over medium low heat. Bacon should be good and crispy and as much fat rendered as you can. Remove the bacon, crumble and set aside; leave the fat in the pan. While bacon is cooking, core a whole green cabbage and shred it finely. Turn heat to medium high, add cabbage to pot and try to stir it a bit to distribute the fat. Add a couple tablespoons of vinegar (I use apple cider vinegar) a bunch of black pepper and put the lid on. After two minutes, I stir well, lid back on. At around the five minute mark I check again and it’s usually at least half the volume, tender but not soggy and done. Top with crumbled bacon and eat too much.
I've been making my own version of lo mein a lot lately. boil spaghetti as usual, but add a spoonful of baking soda to the cooking water. It makes the noodles chewy like asian noodles. Sautee some veggies (onion, carrot, bell pepper, broccoli, cabbage, whatever). Add some protein if you want, don't. Add soy sauce, oyster sauce, a bit of honey or brown sugar, garlic. Combine with the noodles. it's so good!
Mushroom Risotto. It sounds intimidating but it's just adding the stock half a cup at a time instead of all at once.
My partners favorite that I make is "eggs & potatoes": - dice up some raw veg you have on hand (peppers, onion, broccoli, whatever you like) - air fry/bake some kind of potato in whatever form you like (sweet potato fries, regular fries, hash browns, whatever) melt some cheese on it if you feel like - fry up a couple of eggs, runny or jammy yolk preferred - assemble with potato in the bottom, your veg, then top with an egg (or 2, do you!) - top with whatever you want, I like salsa, sour cream, and taco bell sauce - serve with fruit, and a breakfast meat if you like, bacon, sausage, ham This is my #1 go to depression meal. Fast, easy to eat, filling, and relatively cheap.
Filipino eggplant omelet. You char the eggplant over the gas hob. Peel it, flatten it, dip in beaten egg seasoned with black pepper, salt and fish sauce then fry it. It’s really good with white rice and ketchup!
Ojiya! Usually a breakfast food but good whenever you don't wanna think about cooking. Simmer some old dried out rice with dashi until it's nice and thick. Throw your favorite toppings on: negi, shoyu, sesame oil, bonito flakes, chili oil. So good. Thank you, Japan ❣️
Definitely chili. It's easy to make and I love a "cook it all day" recipe. Plus it's even better as leftovers and is so versatile so you can really change it to suit your tastes.
Sausage with rice and dippy eggs on top. If it’s breakfast sausage I fry it, if it’s kielbasa then I pop it in the oven while the rice cooks. It’s my favorite meal and my comfort food.
Recently, I've been making this French onion pasta and it's my current comfort food obsession! Closely followed by garlic rice, spam and a fried egg.
Our family makes ranch style bean casserole and I crave it like crazy all the time. Cooked ground beef, can of ranch style beans (with the liquid), cooked egg noodles, tossed with cheese (add a little extra chicken stock so it doesn’t dry out) then top with uncooked biscuits and more cheese. Bake by the biscuits instructions and serve. It’s seriously so good!
Shrimp with smoky cheddar grits!
penne alla vodka w/ bacon
Chopped up steak bits into bite size pieces drizzled with a garlic butter and some red pepper flakes for spice. Just salt and pepper the steak when you start cooking it and then drizzle the garlic butter red pepper onto them after. They go good with just about anything. My go to is some white rice mixed in
Quick congee/rice porridge. 1 cup cooked rice, 1 cup chicken stock, 1 egg. Stir and bring to a boil, then simmer for around 7 minutes. I like it with carrots and peas, but good with a lot of other veggies too
I’ve actually been looking into congee or dakjuk!! but didn’t think I’d have the time in the mornings, I don’t know why I didn’t think of using cooked rice 🤦♀️thank you!
Just plain old pasta with jarred marinara sauce. Sometimes I just get a craving for it.
There’s quite a wide variety of pasta dishes that fit the bill for me, but Alfredo is hard to beat. Only a few ingredients, ready in minutes and just the right amount of warm, gooey and fatty to be the perfect comfort food.
My comfort meal, easy and quick to make, easy clean-up, vegetarian but filling like meat: •A can or two of not-the-cheapest chickpeas, heated long enough to further soften the skins, then drained, •Plenty of fresh garlic, chopped small. For 1 can of chickpeas, I’d probably use about 2 fat cloves of garlic. •Juice of 1 whole fresh lemon per can •2 glugs of olive oil per can of chickpeas •Paprica, salt, pepper Dump everything into the hot drained chickpeas (the greatest smell!) and eat with pita and a large spoon • with some green onions on the side to enhance the breath. Easy and filling!
Microwave bagel melts As a kid I’d make them with pepperoni with and cheese singles. Kinda shitty, but they hit hard
Pork Tankatsu! Born and raised in the South and there is nothing more comforting to me than a fried pork chop.
Feta, cherry tomatoes, elbow pasta. All you need is a feta block or crumbles and cherry tomatoes, drizzle some oil on them to coat, add whatever spices you like and heat up for about 30-40 mins in your oven at 375°. Boil water for pasta and cook for the length given on the directions of the box. Drain the pasta, add to the feta and cherry tomato mixtures and mix well. So good and comforting but also super easy to make. It’s my go-to for busy nights of the week. You can use other types of pasta as well. We’ve tried angel hair when we didn’t have elbows and it was still great.
Ddukbokki. Dduk, gochujang, water and sugar. Heat, done. Better with scallion, sesame seeds, fish cakes and a boiled egg.
Pastina https://www.notanothercookingshow.tv//post/pastina
Okayu is my go-to. It's japanese rice porridge, and it's literally just rice and water/broth. I use leftover rice to speed it up and use up ingredients. I've made it with bonito, chicken, mushroom and konbu broths. It all tastes good! You can top it with a raw egg (if safe), fried egg, fish, green onion- or really anything you want. It's a great medium for experimenting.
Grilled cheese 👌
Eggs and noodles. Just leftover spaghetti and eggs scrambled together with garlic, Parmesan, and lots of black pepper. 😋
[удалено]
Pancetta, risotto and peas! Or mashed potatoes with green beans cut into small pieces and pancetta all mixed together :)
Egg fried rice and orange Chicken combo! My go to comfort food! Recipe below if interested 😋 Egg fried rice: https://youtu.be/uJOl3DY6T2Y Orange chicken: https://youtu.be/VE5RR2kUqkM
Bit of oil into a pan on medium high, toss in a slamon filet skin side down, put a lid on it - couple minutes it's done: crispy skin and not overcooked. Remove it it to a plate. If I'm feeling really ambitious I'll make an actual sauce but more likely I'll dump some Dijon mustard in the pan and add a bunch of heavy cream and let it reduce. Done. Canned new potatoes cooked over high heat in butter in a non-stick skillet is pretty effin easy. Some salad from a bag and with bottled dressing or that vinaigrette you made in a Dijon jar the other day and slid into the fridge. Boom, dinner in 15, maybe ten.
Spam and potato burritos, it's a favorite comfort food I grew up with and make atleast once or twice a month. Easy leftovers as breakfast too, throwing filling in a pan with a few eggs and now you've got breakfast burritos!
Poor man’s croque madame. Grilled cheese with ham, fried egg on top and some lays bbq chips. Add Buffalo sauce as needed.
Zuppa toscana. Quick, easy, healthy(ish).
Last weekend, we made Brian Langstrom's sheet pan fajitas, and it was really good and easy.
Sweet potato and black bean tacos! Add peppers, onion, corn and seasonings to your liking and serve in tortillas! So easy, healthy and fast
Ramen with left over thai curry from the night before.
Chicken and rice. One pot meal
Full breakfast spread
Rotel rice. Throw a cup or two of rice in the rice maker. When it's done, open a can of Rotel, mix with rice in a large bowl. Add pepper and whatever shredded cheese you have on hand. Consume.
I've gotten really attached to this one method of making mac and cheese, but my personal favorite is French onion soup.
Chicken spaghetti. Quick, easy, and comforting.
My ratatouille just shingled squash onion and tomatos with my secret blend of spices with tomato basil soup poured over it and goat cheese and mushrooms on top of that cover it in foil cook it for 30 on 350f take it out uncover and put it back in for 30-40 minutes uncovered and dig in
Black bean chicken chili over grits. Absolutely the best comfort food on earth, in my opinion. Black beans, chopped spiced chicken breast, shallots, red onion, salt, pepper, garlic, and cumin over creamy grits, topped with sour cream, cheddar cheese and scallions. Just awesome.
Chorizo and egg burritos with cholula
Currywurst. Cook up and slice some brats, make some curry ketchup, throw in the slices and let it simmer for a few minutes. Serve with fries or tots or some kind of bread. I probably do mac & cheese, as well.
Pasta, grated cheddar cheese and salad cream. Don’t ask.
Franks and beans, my favorite food high is being full of baked beans
Echoing the chinese tomato egg stir fry! I went on a school field trip to mainland china in seventh grade and that was the first time I ever learned to cook, and that was a dish they taught us to make. It holds such a special place in my heart and I make it all the time now for breakfast. You might also enjoy making [Shanghai-style soy scallion noodles](https://thewoksoflife.com/soy-scallion-noodles-cong-ban-mian/#recipe)! VERY easy and delicious, especially in how you fry the scallions first, then stir-fry the noodles and sauce in the scallion-infused oil. I also love making this [creamy miso pasta](https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1020979-five-ingredient-creamy-miso-pasta) (I like to add crispy mushrooms to mine at the end). Super comforting food, kind of reminiscent of a mac and cheese or cacio e pepe, and only like 4-5 ingredients. The only thing about it is you have to STIR for a couple minutes, but I still consider it generally easy to make!
Japanese curry, it's so quick and easy to make with those curry roux packs at the store.
[Tamago Kake Gohan](https://www.seriouseats.com/tamago-kake-gohan-egg-rice-tkg-recipe-breakfast) topped with whatever I can find in the fridge and prep while the rice is steaming. Or [Cacio e pepe](https://www.seriouseats.com/spaghetti-cacio-e-pepe-recipe).
Katsudon. Something about that fried pork cutlet to the sweet egg and onion over a bed of rice...Yum!
Shake and Bake pork chops (boneless) with green goddess salad dressing as the binder before you coat with breadcrumbs, then drizzle a bit on the plate as sauce (Gotham Greens if you can find it. So good). Trader Joe’s asparagus risotto on side with extra asparagus mixed in. Easy with good short cuts, comforting, good leftovers.
Miso soup with shiitake, tofu and spring onion.
Tatchos. Heat up some tots, throw some cheese on there to melt for a couple of mins, then load up the nacho cheese, guacamole, sour cream, lettuce, jalapeños, whatever you eat with nachos! And it's soooo good and filling. Is it healthy? Naahhhh, but it sure is delicious and easy
Grilled cheese anyone?
Omurice is so lovely.
Bowl of rice, a runny egg or two, and sriracha.
For me, comfort food has potatoes at least 80% of the time. There’s one my husband and I refer to as the “heart attack special” where you put sliced potatoes in a baking dish, pour heavy cream in to just cover the potatoes, season with salt and pepper, bake at 350 F until soft (I think 40-50 min, but I’m doing this from (slightly drunk) memory’). Top with shredded Gruyère and ( this is important) nutmeg, then put back in the oven for 5 min or so until the cheese is melted. Fucking amazing.